New Delhi/ Bhopal August 24, 2026

Hollywood star and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has drawn attention to an Indian tradition thousands of kilometres from its home after photographs of him at ISKCON’s 50th Rath Yatra in Los Angeles surfaced on social media. The actor was seen posing near a decorated chariot carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Devi Subhadra during the annual Festival of Chariots.

Schwarzenegger’s presence was not part of the announced programme. Reports said there was no prior information about his participation, and it remains unclear whether he joined the procession or happened to be in the Venice Beach area and stopped during the celebrations. His photographs, however, quickly travelled across social media.

Los Angeles is identified globally with Hollywood, films and popular culture. Yet on its famous coastline, three colourful wooden chariots, kirtan, Indian music and devotees pulling the ropes have become a familiar sight over the past five decades.

The 50th annual Los Angeles Rath Yatra, organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was held on August 2. The procession travelled through the Santa Monica-Venice Beach area before culminating in a larger Festival of India programme.

Schwarzenegger, known worldwide for films including The Terminator, Conan the Barbarian and Predator, also has a long association with California. He served as the state’s Governor from 2003 to 2011.

His unexpected appearance brought Hollywood and an old Indian religious tradition into the same frame. The Los Angeles festival itself has travelled a long way. According to ISKCON, the first Rath Yatra there was held in 1976 under the guidance of ISKCON founder A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. What began as a devotional procession has since grown into one of the organisation’s largest and longest-running Rath Yatra celebrations in North America.

The tradition draws its inspiration from the famous Rath Yatra of Puri in Odisha, where Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra leave the Jagannath Temple for their annual journey to the Gundicha Temple. The chariots move through public streets towards Venice Beach as devotees sing and dance along the route. The accompanying Festival of India brings together devotional music, dance, cultural displays, vegetarian food and other programmes for visitors.

The scale has also grown over the years. ISKCON records show that earlier editions attracted tens of thousands of spectators and participants. This year’s golden-jubilee celebration was preceded by several days of kirtan and devotional programmes.

The cultural connection with Puri remains visible even in Los Angeles. An authentic wooden chariot wheel made in the traditional style and sent from Puri has previously formed part of the festival exhibition at Venice Beach.

Schwarzenegger’s appearance has now added an unexpected popular-culture moment to that 50-year journey. A festival rooted in Jagannath Puri and carried to California by devotees five decades ago found itself sharing the frame with one of Hollywood’s most recognisable faces- giving this year’s golden-jubilee Rath Yatra another moment to remember.